Jeff Jarrett on AEW Ahead of Revolution: 'It Is by Far the Deepest Roster'

For nearly four decades, Jeff Jarrett has been a fixture in the world of professional wrestling. With a career spanning several promotions and numerous accolades to his name, he earned legendary status a long time ago.

Double J is still performing at a high level, which is even more impressive when you consider that he is 55 years old. Between him, Sting and Dustin Rhodes, it appears the old WCW locker room found the fountain of youth.

This Sunday at Revolution, Jarrett will team up with Jay Lethal to battle The Gunns, The Acclaimed and the duo of Danhausen and Orange Cassidy in a Fatal 4-Way match for the AEW Tag Team Championships.

We had a chance to speak with The Last Outlaw ahead of his big title bout to talk about his career, teaming with his long-time friend and much more.

Working with Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt and Satnam Singh

This Sunday, Jarrett and Lethal will be one of three teams challenging Austin and Colten Gunn for the AEW Tag Team Championships. With fellow former TNA regular Sonjay Dutt and newcomer Satnam Singh by their side, Jarrett and Lethal have been featured regularly on AEW television in recent months.

What some fans may not realize is that Double J shares a history with Lethal that dates back roughly two decades, even predating their time in TNA together.

"In so many ways, it's surreal because if you trace our relationship back to the very beginning, it was on the independent scene in Jersey a few minutes from his house," Jarrett said. "Wayne, New Jersey. And there, once upon a time, I faced Jay Lethal, and Mama Lethal came down to ringside and had a few choice words for The Last Outlaw. And legitimately chased me around the ring one night because she didn't like what I was doing to her baby boy."

Jarrett and Lethal would later find themselves working together in TNA, but their current run as a tag team kicked off last summer when both guys were working for two different companies.

"So fast forward through the years and Jay working at TNA for me and us creating a friendship that goes deep and long. And he's not only a good friend of mine but a good friend of my entire family. So Jay has been a part of our family for a long time. And then you kind of look back over last summer and how things transpired with him having a close relationship with Ric Flair, and Flair's last match and how that came together.

"I don't believe in coincidences, only convergences. It happened and we were a tag team. At the time, obviously, I was working for the WWE. So just kind of a straight WWE guy teaming with an AEW guy, that was a unique set of circumstances, to say the least.

"And now as you roll into 2023, for us to just be basically on a roll in the package that we have with Sanjay Dutt, and we obviously have a long history. And Satnam Singh is just a mega-, mega-, mega-star in the making. So it's a very formidable unit. And for me and Jay to be challenging for the tag titles, it's gonna be one for the history books this Sunday, that is for certain."

Staying in Shape

Jarrett has been consistently active in pro wrestling for the better part of four decades, so it's sometimes easy to overlook just how impressive it is that he can still perform on a regular basis at the age of 55 because he has never taken a long break.

"I can't give away all my secrets now," Jarret said with a laugh. "I mean, it's first by the grace of God, it's just that simple. I am very, very blessed. You know, I started in April of '86. So you can do the math. That's 37 years. It's quite a while. But I have always been someone who, from a young kid, didn't mind rolling up my sleeves, getting in the gym and staying active ever since I can remember. Anything with a bat or a ball, or running or a game, any kind of competitive nature.

"And the biggest challenge is, I have found through the years—and I try to teach this to my kids—your biggest competition is yourself. So I compete against myself daily, and I do that and I work hard, not only in the gym, but stretching and a full maintenance program, not just physically but mentally and emotionally and spiritually.

"So I try to keep myself in the best shape I possibly can. And I feel very blessed to get the opportunity."

Thoughts on Satnam Singh

While two of Jarrett's stablemates are longtimes allies, Singh is new to pro wrestling after spending the early part of his adulthood playing basketball. As a former basketball player himself, Double J has had a chance to see the seven-foot star in action.

"At one or two of the shows, as a part of the facilities, there have been auxiliary gyms or whatever," Jarrett said. "But I've gone in there with Satnam, and his athletic ability, you have to truly see it to believe it.

"As he grows as a professional wrestler—it's gonna be a slow, steady progress—but when you see a guy who's his size, his strength, and see the agility and see him dribble a basketball and see him shoot three-pointers, you know that you don't see that every day. It is his athletic ability. It's truly unbelievable."

Jarrett has had just about every role both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. He has been a performer, owner, booker and producer, so he has an eye for talent. Right now, The Last Outlaw thinks the AEW roster is unmatched in many ways.

"I think collectively, it is by far the deepest roster," Jarrett said. "By far the most diverse roster. And from a straight athletic performance, that flexibility is second to none. It's truly amazing what the athletes of AEW do day in and day out.

"So much so that I think the fanbase that AEW has, from time to time, they take things for granted because there are outstanding matches, week after week, show after show that people almost take for granted. But what they're seeing is an unbelievable performance, from an athletic standpoint.

"If you know my history, I've been a very, very big fan of different styles, whether it's lucha libre, or strong style from Japan, or European mat wrestling...obviously, the showmanship of the United States. But now as we kind of progress and evolve in professional wrestling, you just kind of look at the AEW roster and completely understand just how the business is evolving right before our very eyes."

Memorable World Title Wins

After 37 years in the business, Jarrett has accumulated a lot of accolades, but being a 12-time world champion is something in which he takes a lot of pride. When asked about his most memorable world title wins, Double J singled out two.

"You know, the first one is something that is always memorable," He said. "And for me being a basketball junkie, and winning my first world title, The Big Gold Belt, to win that in Chicago at the United Center is a memory etched in my brain for sure.

"And also, when I won the AAA Mega Championship for the very first time, that was special, because obviously, it was outside the borders. And in an organization that is a different style. It's a lucha libre style. So, again, I've always been a big fan of diversity. And in my early years, going to Japan or Puerto Rico and kind of understanding, even Texas and Tennessee had differences in their style of wrestling.

"So I've always really been a student of the game, but also a fan of the game, to understand that there are different styles. There's not just one style that works. And I think that is something that scared me and really helped me through the years. I think that helps with longevity and understanding the nature of our industry and the evolution of it.

Memories of Owen Hart

Jarrett has had a lot of different alliances over the years. Not only was he in the New World Order, but he held the USWA tag titles an astonishing 14 times with six different partners that included both Jerry Lawler and his son, Brian Christopher.

However, one of his most memorable tag teams was with Owen Hart in WWE. Last year, AEW formed a partnership with The Owen Hart Foundation to honor his legacy with a pair of tournaments for the men's and women's divisions.

The former tag team champions traveled together a lot, so Double J has plenty of fond memories of Hart's pranks and his quality of character.

"I got hundreds of [prank stories]. There are so many funny stories, whether it's Owen dealing with somebody at a drive-thru, and no matter what they repeated back at the drive-thru window, he was always just a little off. They said pickles and he would respond with 'I didn't say pickles, I said double pickles.' I mean, just the most minute little interaction with folks, that meant no harm.

"Owen just liked to confuse the drive-thru or convenience store, or, you name it, hotel clerk checking in at hotels, it doesn't matter. Owen was obviously a great prankster and an incredible wrestler, but most importantly, the man of Owen Hart and the integrity that he had, he had no peers in that. Owen was a special guy in our industry and in life, and I like to always kind of point that out when talking about him."

Quick Q&A

Do you have a favorite guitar shot you have delivered?

That's an impossibility but there are a lot of good ones. Moolah, Beetlejuice. I have to say I especially love cracking Max Caster, and that's the recent one. Paul Walter Hauser is another one that comes to mind since I've been in AEW. I've cracked Darby Allin. All three of them have been...I'll just say nice shots.

---

Where do you get the guitars you use in matches?

How can I tell you all my trade secrets? Down here on the farm in Tennessee, we grow guitar trees.

---

What would be your final meal?

I'll say my favorite meal....man, I absolutely love a good steak. And I love great sushi.

---

What would you be doing if you weren't wrestling?

I have so much respect for the coaching industry. Because as of late, you see the high-profile football or basketball, the professionals, and it's very, very lucrative. But on the real local level, the amount of effort it takes to pour into kids, and it's obviously not from a financial perspective. It is because they love it. So I just can't tell you how much respect I have for the coaching profession.

---

What is going on with your baseball team?

I am a part of the ownership group. And we're expanding and looking to make some really cool announcements. The Lucky Horseshoes in Springfield. Our opening day is right around the corner. But as an ownership group, Golden Rule Entertainment, we're looking to expand and get some really cool announcements coming up. So yes, my baseball business is blossoming.